Lying in the south-west Pacific, New Zealand consists of two main islands - the North Island and the South Island. Stewart Island and many smaller islands lie offshore.
The North Island of New Zealand has a 'spine' of mountain ranges running through the middle, with gentle rolling farmland on both sides. The central North Island is dominated by the Volcanic Plateau, an active volcanic and thermal area. The massive Southern Alps form the backbone of the South Island. To the east of the Southern Alps is the rolling farmland of Otago and Southland, and the vast, flat Canterbury Plains. The longest river is the Waikato on North Island (425 Km / 264 miles), the largest inland stretch of water is Lake Taupo also on North Island (607 sq Km / 235 sq miles) and the highest point is Mount Cook on South Island (3754 m / 12316 ft). Over 75% of New Zealand is above 200m.
Land use is broken down to approximately: forested 30% - meadows and pastures 50% - agricultural and under permanent cultivation 15% . Sheep and cattle graze on the rich farmland around Hamilton and New Plymouth in North Island and around Dunedin and Invercargill on South Island.
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Geography of New Zealand
The North Island of New Zealand has a 'spine' of mountain ranges running through the middle, with gentle rolling farmland on both sides. The central North Island is dominated by the Volcanic Plateau, an active volcanic and thermal area. The massive Southern Alps form the backbone of the South Island. To the east of the Southern Alps is the rolling farmland of Otago and Southland, and the vast, flat Canterbury Plains. The longest river is the Waikato on North Island (425 Km / 264 miles), the largest inland stretch of water is Lake Taupo also on North Island (607 sq Km / 235 sq miles) and the highest point is Mount Cook on South Island (3754 m / 12316 ft). Over 75% of New Zealand is above 200m.
Land use is broken down to approximately: forested 30% - meadows and pastures 50% - agricultural and under permanent cultivation 15% . Sheep and cattle graze on the rich farmland around Hamilton and New Plymouth in North Island and around Dunedin and Invercargill on South Island.
Adapted from :
http://www.newzealand.com/int/article/new-zealand-geography-and-geology/
http://www.innz.co.nz/about/geography.html